1

Not an easy question...the secondary places you mention are all worthwhile in their own way so skipping one or two is a matter of taste...just a pity you don't have more time...((

I'll have a stab anyway...if I understand you correctly, you have 5 extra days to work with...I'll start by eliminating Innsbruck and advise you to go to Salzburg instead as it's on your route from Munich to Vienna and also a better stopover than Innsbruck...one day is fine to see the city but 2 would be better and you could visit the area around Berchtesgaden, the Eagles Nest and Lake Koenigsee for a long and wonderfully scenic day-trip...

Seeing as you're only giving 2 days to Vienna then skip out Bratislava and head to Cesky Krumlov for 2 nights...on the second day you could head out into the hills for a decent hike around this lovely area of Bohemia or consult the Tourist Office to get an agenda for the area outside the town, like rafting on the Vltava, etc...on the way to Berlin then stop at Dresden and maybe stay another day and head down to Saxon Schweiz for that day's hiking...

I'm omitting Fuessen as I believe the trip to Berchtesgaden from Salzburg is more appealing and Dachau can be done in a few hours from Munich if you're already sated with the city on Day 2...

But factoring in travelling time means that it's going to be a bit of a scramble, no matter which way you configure this trip...good luck...

2

Dachau is a must see when doing Munich. Suggest doing it as part of a half or full day tour where available as well to make the most of it.

Zugspitze can be a good option if you are pondering a bit of an adventure...an hour or so from Munich heading to the Bavarian Alps.

3

Agree with # 1, but would add an alternative to the Saxon Switzerland (which is well worth visiting) in Germany would be the smaller towns of Bautzen, Goerlitz (on the Polish border and almost untouched in WWII) and Zittau together with the Zittauer Gebirge range of low sandstone mountains. This area is the western end of the Cesky Raj (Czech Paradise) which runs along the northern Czech border with Poland and Germany and ultimately ends up in the Saxon Switzerland and the Elbe gorge. Worth looking at a map and having a google. Although less famous, it might be worth considering as an alternative to Cesky Krumlov too.

Although the usual route from Prague to Dresden is on the direct express train (which runs through to Berlin) which follows the Elbe gorge and passes the western edge of the Saxon Switzerland, an alternative route is by bus (because it is quicker and more frequent than the train) to Liberec, from where there is a train across the border to Zittau in Germany every 1 - 2 hours. In case you aren't aware, bahn.de, the german railways site has details of trains throughout western europe. For Czech buses and trains use http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/?lng=E

4

Zugspitze can be a good option if you are pondering a bit of an adventure...an hour or so from Munich heading to the Bavarian Alps.

Indeed it is but the problem with this is that if you go all the way there and then spend the €40 or so to get up to the summit and it's covered in cloud as frequently happens, then your day and money are arguably wasted...

Zugspitze is fine if you're in or around Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a day or two and can check the cloud cover before committing but it's a risk to dedicate a day to this from Munich if you're on such a tight schedule as gmich...

5

Hi all, thank you for the quick responses.

Based on further conversation, we will definitely visit Salzburg, and Berchtesgaden/Konigsee/Eagle's Nest look wonderful. Is it easy to get out there (and cross the border) for a day of hiking from Salzburg using public transport?

I am curious to hear some thoughts on visiting castles in the region. We have not seen many castles (from the USA), so the idea is very appealing to us. Should we go to Neuschwanstein? If not, what castles would you recommend that are generally along our path? (Or perhaps castles are overrated and there are better places with impressive architecture in another form?)

Bautzen and Gorlitz look like great towns, but I am afraid they will take a bit too much time to get to, given our constrained schedule. Is that the case?

So far we have Munich (train) Salzburg/Berchtesgaden (train) Vienna (train) Prague (train) Berlin. Are any of those connections best made by some method other than train?

That is already 11-12 days for us I think, so we are just looking to add another 1-2 days.

We would love to find something "smaller" with an "old town square" feel. I am not sure if the analogy makes any sense, but we really liked San Gimignano.

Perhaps Cesky Krumlov is the best bet for this and we should just add that to finish it off?

Thanks again.

6

Berchtesgaden/Konigsee/Eagle's Nest look wonderful. Is it easy to get out there (and cross the border) for a day of hiking from Salzburg using public transport?

There are regular trains and buses (better) from Salzburg which take approx 1 hour to get to Berchtesgaden...to get up to Eagles Nest (Kehlstein) you need to get the bus from Berchtesgaden which also passes through the OverSalzburg area which is of WW2 historical interest...or you can book yourself onto one (and there is only one) of the excellent tours that go up there from Berchtesgaden...for Koenigsee, you can also take a bus from BTG or walk to the lake which takes approx 1 hour through the woods...then there is a ferry that drops off at various points along the shore...if you are attempting to do all this in one day then you'll need an early start to accomplish all...

curious to hear some thoughts on visiting castles in the region. Should we go to Neuschwanstein? If not, what castles would you recommend that are generally along our path?

As I understand your trip, you don't have much spare time so I'd question the value of visiting Neuschwanstein on this itinerary as it's partially covered in scaffolding at the moment and the tour of the inside is reputedly quite short and underwhelming, apart from one of the rooms, apparently...a substantial part of its appeal is the countryside surrounding it and the town of Fuessen but you'll get a better slice of that in Berchtesgaden & environs, if you decide to go there...

My own 2 favourite castles in this region are King Ludwig's gargantuan folly on Herrenchiemsee Island near Prien (actually on your way to Salzburg), and Burghausen Fortress...

But don't forget that in places like Munich you have Schloss Nymphenburg for some baroque grandeur on the outskirts, the outstanding Festung Hohensalzburg in Salzburg, stately Schoennbrunn Palace in Vienna and Prague's magnificent castle to explore without leaving your destination cities...

We would love to find something "smaller" with an "old town square" feel...Perhaps Cesky Krumlov is the best bet for this and we should just add that to finish it off?

I think Krumlov would fit this bill although it's very popular and you certainly won't have it all to yourself...also has a fine castle and grounds...

So far we have Munich (train) Salzburg/Berchtesgaden (train) Vienna (train) Prague (train) Berlin. Are any of those connections best made by some method other than train?

Depends what you mean by better?...on the Munich to Salzburg leg, you can purchase a Bayern-Ticket for the both of you which will save you approx half the price (using local trains after 9am)...if you are going to Cesky Krumlov after Vienna, then one of the shuttlebus companies is best and most straightforward...from CK to Prague is 'best' done by Student Agency bus although the train journey back to Ceske Budejovice is very scenic before you look for another train or bus connection from there to Prague...

For the remainder, mike9 has given some interesting advice in #3 above...

7

Thanks again for the quick replies, Jack.

I have some follow up questions I was hoping you (and others) might take a look at. I have looked into transport between each of the pairs of cities. Here is what I have so far:

Munich --> Salzburg: Bayern Ticket, 29 Euro (thanks for suggesting this)
Salzburg --> Vienna: Train, 19 Euro each
Vienna --> CK: Shuttle bus for 1100 CZK (!?) each OR train via Ceske Velenice and Ceske Budejovice (no info avail.)
CK --> Prague: Bus or Train, both 180-200 CZK each, both 3-3.5 hours
Prague --> Berlin: Train, 734 CZK each

Transport Questions:
1. Should I buy the Bayern ticket in advance, or will it definitely be available when I get to the station?
2. With the Bayern ticket, do I need to buy tickets to the individual trains we will take, or do we just get on the train?
3. Is train a realistic option from Vienna to CK? On oebb.at it does not give prices or allow me to buy tickets online for that route (unlike other routes). The idea of paying almost $60 for a 3 hour shuttle is not appealing. Is that really the only option?
4. It sounds like you recommend train over bus for CK -> Prague. Is that right? Is it worth stopping in České Budějovice? (I do like good beer, though presumably I will get that in Prague, too.)
5. Do any of these train tickets allow me to buy a ticket from A to B and then get on and off along the way whichever day I choose? It seems like this is true for full fare tickets but not for any of the ones I would be buying. Is that right?

Hiking Questions:
6. I am having trouble understanding the Berchtesgaden area. Our goal would be to walk/hike as much as possible. Is it possible to hike up to Eagle's Nest (once you take the local bus to the area from BTG), or is it required to take the 16 Euro bus up to it? It sounds like we would definitely be able to hike in the national park and near the lake on our own. Is that right?
7. I am trying to identify what other hiking areas are accessible within an hour or so of Munich/SalzburgVienna/Prague/Berlin. The only one I have found is Salzkammergut. Is BTG recommend over that? Are there others I should be considering? Saxon Schweiz looks like it will be much harder to get to.

Itinerary Question:
8. We are looking at roughly the following. What would you change, if anything?
Day 1 Arrive Munich
Day 2 Munich
Day 3 Munich, to Salzburg in evening
Day 4 Salzburg hiking
Day 5 Salzburg, to Vienna in evening
Day 6 Vienna
Day 7 Vienna
Day 8 to CK at noon
Day 9 CK, to Prague in evening
Day 10 Prague
Day 11 Prague
Day 12 to Berlin at some point
Day 13 Berlin
Day 14 Berlin
Day 15 Depart
(9. I had the idea that if I cut out hiking and CK we could go to either Krakow or Budapest from Vienna, and then overnight train to Prague. Is that absurd, or worth considering?)

8

I can only advise you about something that i loved to do when i was in Berlin...Im sorry for not being able to give you any recommendations on the other destinations youre planning to visit.

Well...4 posts so far all plugging the same tour and company so forgive me if I don't believe you're sorry at all...time you found another forum, I suggest...

Thanks again for the quick replies, Jack...I have some follow up questions

You're working me hard on this one, gmich, that's for sure...))

1. It will definitely be available at the station on the day either at the window or (€2 cheaper) from the machine...so it's up to you but it might be easier on you if you pick it up in advance but just make sure you get it for the right day, that's all...

2. No, just fill in your signature before you get on the train and then it's your pass for the day, including local transport in Munich as well (but not local trams/buses in Salzburg)...

3. If you take the train it will cost approx the same and you have to make 2 or 3 changes so you may as well use the shuttle...

4. No, if you read again you'll see I recommended the Student Agency bus direct from Krumlov to Prague...what I did say is that the train leg from CK to Ceske Budejovice is prettier and then you could join up with the same (although later) bus...but your trip is quite tight in time lines and CB isn't really worth stopping off for on such a narrow schedule unless you desperately want to see the (original) Budweis brewery and the main square...

5. With the Bayern Ticket (local trains only, after 9am) you can hop on and off, all day...ditto with Salzburg to Vienna...in the Czech Republic, I believe you can only break a train journey if it's over 100kms...international tickets like Prague to Berlin are usually valid for 60 days but that price you have quoted looks very cheap for the route so maybe look into that...

6. Eagles Nest is complicated as I think that price includes the entrance plus the lift to the top...you can hike up to the car park but must takes the famous lift then up through the inside of the mountain...btw, this is no casual hike but a really steep ascent and descent so you should take that into account...plus check your dates as Eagles Nest only re-opens sometimes in mid-May...you can hike around the rest of the area as much as you like...

7/8/9.. Your itinerary is now very good, but I have to say you're in dreamland if you think you can squeeze any more hiking in your plan as you have just enough time to get a good look at those cities you have penned in...and if you're any way serious about that you won't be chasing off in another direction to either Krakow or Budapest!...